Trial of Citalopram for the Prevention of Depression

Summary

With the improved prognosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, end stage liver disease due to hepatitis C (HCV) now represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in people with HIV. Treatment for HCV has become increasingly important as a means of preventing the consequences of chronic HCV infection. Paradoxically, co-infected patients have low rates of treatment initiation and completion in large part because they have a high risk of developing neuropsychiatric symptoms while receiving PEG-interferon (PEG-IFN). There are a large number of co-infected individuals in Canada who could benefit from HCV therapy if tolerability could be improved. This trial will address whether prophylactic use of antidepressants in HIV-HCV infected patients initiating HCV therapy can prevent the development of neuropsychiatric side effects and thus permit more patients to receive full treatment for HCV.

Timeline

Start

2006-11

Primary completion

2012-03

Completion

2012-03

Publications

• Klein MB, Lee T, Brouillette MJ, Sheehan NL, Walmsley S, Wong DK, Conway B, Hull M, Cooper C, Haidar S, Vezina S, Annable L, Young S, Zubyk W, Singer J. Citalopram for the prevention of depression and its consequences in HIV-hepatitis C coinfected individuals initiating pegylated interferon/ribavirin therapy: a multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. HIV Clin Trials. 2014 Jul-Aug;15(4):161-75. doi: 10.1310/hct1504-161.

Drugs

Indications